The “old-fashioned” trend is on the rise with Gen Z opting to consume their music through wired earphones, rejecting the modern way of wireless – but I’m still sticking to my Wireless Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The last time I remember plugging earphones into my phone was definitely more than five years ago. Since wireless earphones became popular, I’ve been on its team over wired any day.
But it does seem that wired headphones are now on the rise, with more Gen Zs tapping into this retro vibe. Videos praising wired earphones have over 840k likes on TikTok and actor Paul Mescal’s candid confession about his “old-fashioned” love of the wires gained over a million views. He said in an interview with GQ: “[Wireless earphones] just fall out of my ears and they’re not particularly practical.”
On Instagram, the Wired It Girls’ account, with more than 17,000 followers, is one of the many accounts on social media dedicated to posting about earphones. Celebrities have also been jumping back on the trend. Singer Dua Lipa revealed that she carries a few sets of wired earphones in her bag during in her Vogue interview, adding that her main reason for choosing wired over wireless is that you don’t have to charge them.
But I can’t help feeling like the practicality of wireless headphones is being overlooked. Many phones these days don’t even have the circular hole for earphones to fit anymore — you have to use a small jack cable at an extra price that connects the phone and earphones together. That is what I’ve lost the most out of all my phone accessories. Wired earphones might be the new craze, according to your favourite celebrity, but I just can’t take the back-step.
Dr Dre Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review
I’ve been using the new Dr Dre’s Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, £249 and it’s been one of my favourite products so far this year. I use them when I’m working out in the gym, commuting to work, and sometimes even blocking out noise. The gym has been my favourite place to use them.
The freedom I have to put my phone down while I’m working on a set without being restrained by the length of a wire is something I could never give up. Plus the noise cancellation feature means I don’t have to hear the machines clanging together when trying to concentrate, the sound of men grunting during a set, or the blaring house music from the gym’s speakers. With these pods I can get complete silence which I can choose to fill with tunes or a podcast of my choice.
With a touch of a button on the side of the bud, I can pause the songs, which comes in handy when my phone is in my pocket when I’m out on the street. Not only pause, but skip forward or back to the next song, and even start over, all can be done right from the earbud.
Yes, the price does seem bleak when there are other cheaper wireless earphones out there, but for me in London having your phone out is no longer a safe option. These buds are designed to wrap around my ear so they’re less likely to even fall out, hidden behind my hair, and even harder for anyone to try to take out. This can’t be said with the wired earphones as the cable just dangles out in public ready for people to try to take them away.
Plus, phone theft in London has increased over the last five years, with the government revealing that phone snatching has surged by 150 percent, according to the SW Londonder, and a phone is stolen every six minutes. By having these wireless buds I can tuck my phone safely away on my commutes, still enjoy my music, and also can control it with a tap of the buds.
I don’t have to look around in wonder if anyone is watching me before I take out my phone to change the song, or have to grip onto it for dear life scared it’ll get snatched.
Even though the rising TikTok trend may prove that young people are opting for the traditional, wired way of audio listening or streaming, I’ll stick with my wireless earphones, blocking out the noise of those who don’t agree.
Where to buy Dr Dre Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
You can buy the the new Powerbeats Pro 2 at stores such as John Lewis, Currys, Amazon and Argos to enjoy the music in it’s glory without any distractions from the outside world.
